Just weeks after grieving their own terror siege victims, Sydneysiders gathered again at Martin Place to demonstrate strength and solidarity in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo killings in France.
Australians and French nationals stood side by side on Sunday holding signs bearing the words "Je suis Charlie" and "freedom" as they marched in sympathy with millions of people demonstrating worldwide against the terror attacks.
"We have to stand united," the French ambassador to Australia, Christophe Lecourtier, said.
"There is a great movement of solidarity among the French that are living in Australia ... but also among the Australians who are good friends of my country," the ambassador told AAP as hundreds rallied just metres from where Sydney's terror drama unfolded.
Mr Lecourtier said the rally demonstrated a "message above the tragedy" of what happened in Paris.
He noted the Martin Place venue where Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson were killed after being held hostage for 16 hours by self-styled Islamic cleric Man Haron Monis and said: "We have to stand united in order for that not to happen again, or at least for people to tell the world that their values are stronger than violence, stronger than murder, stronger than terrorism."
The ambassador addressed the gathering in both French and English.
Among the French now resident in Sydney who attended the rally was Felix Delhomme, 27.
"People are sending a message that we're all together," he said.
"We want to be able to maintain our freedom of speech.
"We are mostly concerned about the backlash there might be against the Muslim community. They're not more responsible for what happened than I am."
The names of the 17 police and civilians who died during the attacks at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher deli in Paris earlier this week were read out and a minute's silence was held.
The Sydney rally was part of a worldwide response to Paris attacks.
On Saturday, New Yorkers braved freezing temperatures as they held pens and "Je suis Charlie" signs in support of freedom of expression.
That same day about 700,000 people poured onto streets in France to remember the victims of the terror attacks that shook the nation.
But that number is expected to be dwarfed by attendees at Sunday's unity rally in Paris, which will be attended by world leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
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